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ENLARGE
Pre-construction flagging Wednesday marks the Costco Wholesale construction site along Northeast Stephens Street, which was annexed into the city this week. Costco must put up $700,000 for road improvements, as agreed, before getting building permits.
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ENLARGE
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If all goes as planned, the new Costco Wholesale store will be open and ready for business by November 2010.
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Costco Wholesale will be required to contribute the $700,000 it agreed to put up for road improvements for its new north Roseburg store before it obtains building permits, according to an agreement between the company, Douglas County, the city of Roseburg and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
A portion of the money, $370,000, will be used exclusively for improvements to the Interstate 5 Milepost 127 interchange at Edenbower Boulevard, according to the agreement, which was approved Wednesday by Douglas County commissioners.
Land-use changes needed from Roseburg were approved earlier this week. Store representatives have said if everything goes as planned, the new Costco could open off Northeast Stephens Street just south of the county nonprofits campus by November 2010.
The left-turn lane from Edenbower onto the southbound I-5 on-ramp will be extended as part of the improvements slated before the store opens. In addition, a traffic signal will be installed at the northbound offramp leading to Edenbower.
The city — which signed the agreement Monday after approval by the Roseburg City Council — will be responsible for paying any additional costs incurred if the project exceeds the $370,000 estimate.
The agreement also allows a different type of intersection control to be installed at that intersection if approved by the state traffic engineer and if both the city of Roseburg and the state agree to the change and to funding it.
Douglas County will provide up to $250,000 for its share of the cost of improvements to the Winchester interchange at Milepost 129. ODOT plans to rebuild the interchange north of its current location, aligning it with College Road that leads to Umpqua Community College and a new eastern portion of Del Rio Road.
The Del Rio upgrade was already scheduled because of the need to replace the bridge that passes over the freeway. However, that interchange is expected to be used by a certain percentage of motorists heading south to reach the Costco store. As a result, that project was included in the discussions that ultimately settled concerns over the increase in traffic that is expected when Costco opens later next year.
Under the agreement, the county will be responsible for paying for the installation of a traffic signal at the relocated Del Rio interchange and its intersection with Northeast Stephens Street. If that improvement project isn't sent out to bid by July 1, 2011, the county will have to install two signals, one at the current Del Rio-Stephens intersection and another at College Road and Stephens.
“We're currently working with ODOT and are amending what that intersection with Del Rio is going to look like,” said Robb Paul, the county's public works director. “This whole process may change. ODOT might take over the responsibility to install that signal rather than the county. So the county wouldn't have to pay for the cost of that signal.”
The county already previously committed $7 million toward the Del Rio upgrade. If the project doesn't cost that much, the county would keep the savings.
ODOT will be responsible for any additional lighting required at the interchanges at Mileposts 127 and 129.
All of the projects are scheduled to be finished by the end of 2012.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
A portion of the money, $370,000, will be used exclusively for improvements to the Interstate 5 Milepost 127 interchange at Edenbower Boulevard, according to the agreement, which was approved Wednesday by Douglas County commissioners.
Land-use changes needed from Roseburg were approved earlier this week. Store representatives have said if everything goes as planned, the new Costco could open off Northeast Stephens Street just south of the county nonprofits campus by November 2010.
The left-turn lane from Edenbower onto the southbound I-5 on-ramp will be extended as part of the improvements slated before the store opens. In addition, a traffic signal will be installed at the northbound offramp leading to Edenbower.
The city — which signed the agreement Monday after approval by the Roseburg City Council — will be responsible for paying any additional costs incurred if the project exceeds the $370,000 estimate.
The agreement also allows a different type of intersection control to be installed at that intersection if approved by the state traffic engineer and if both the city of Roseburg and the state agree to the change and to funding it.
Douglas County will provide up to $250,000 for its share of the cost of improvements to the Winchester interchange at Milepost 129. ODOT plans to rebuild the interchange north of its current location, aligning it with College Road that leads to Umpqua Community College and a new eastern portion of Del Rio Road.
The Del Rio upgrade was already scheduled because of the need to replace the bridge that passes over the freeway. However, that interchange is expected to be used by a certain percentage of motorists heading south to reach the Costco store. As a result, that project was included in the discussions that ultimately settled concerns over the increase in traffic that is expected when Costco opens later next year.
Under the agreement, the county will be responsible for paying for the installation of a traffic signal at the relocated Del Rio interchange and its intersection with Northeast Stephens Street. If that improvement project isn't sent out to bid by July 1, 2011, the county will have to install two signals, one at the current Del Rio-Stephens intersection and another at College Road and Stephens.
“We're currently working with ODOT and are amending what that intersection with Del Rio is going to look like,” said Robb Paul, the county's public works director. “This whole process may change. ODOT might take over the responsibility to install that signal rather than the county. So the county wouldn't have to pay for the cost of that signal.”
The county already previously committed $7 million toward the Del Rio upgrade. If the project doesn't cost that much, the county would keep the savings.
ODOT will be responsible for any additional lighting required at the interchanges at Mileposts 127 and 129.
All of the projects are scheduled to be finished by the end of 2012.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
